Bell Time Magazine Autumn/Winter 2015 | Page 10

BellTIME For students with a strong interest in food and food product development, nutrition and health and for those who are interested in developing a diverse range of entrepreneurial skills and business acumen the Bachelor of Applied Science in Food and Business Management is an ideal programme of study. Recent attention to consumer rights, product liability, food standards and an increasing public concern in regard to health and nutrition have resulted in demand for graduates who are competent in the areas of Food Studies, Food Science and Technology, Food Safety, Food Quality, Business & Management, Food Production Methods and Nutrition. The B.Appl.Sc in Food & Business Management is designed to fulfill this need by providing industry with multi-skilled graduates who can assist companies in competing successfully in an increasingly competitive and global market. The B.Appl.Sc is a 4 year, level 8, degree programme which combines food and culinary skills, food technology, food product development and science with business management and marketing whilst incorporating a 20 week placement in third-year to apply skills to the workplace. The programme includes: • Food & Culinary Skills • Nutrition, Diet & Health • Food Technology • Food Product Development • Business Management • Marketing • A 20 week Student Placement. Applicants for the programme are required to have a Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with at least two Grade C3s at Higher Level and four Grade D3s at Ordinary or Higher Level. There are also opportunities available to students via non-standard entry progression routes including mature entry and Access. Graduates of the B.Appl.Sc in Food and Business Management at St. Angela’s College will have attained the knowledge, skills and competencies that will enable them to obtain employment in a variety of food and associated industries. Graduates will be equipped with the technical knowledge and skills required to work in a diverse range of careers such as: Food Production, New Product Development, Quality Control, Marketing/ Sales, Supervision & Management, Consultancy & Research. The degree course also affords the opportunity to pursue further studies at Postgraduate, Masters and Ph.D levels. The Bachelor of Arts in Textiles, Fashion and Design with Business Management in St. Angela’s College is an innovative 3 year, Level 8 degree. The programme is aimed at school leavers and mature students who have a strong interest in textiles, fashion and design and wish to study the artistic, theoretical and technical aspects of textiles and fashion design in a stimulating environment while also developing business management skills and knowledge. The course is designed with optional pathways in fashion design or textiles in all years. This is the third year the BA in Textiles, Fashion and Design with Business (www.rebeccamarsdendesigns.com) and Anna Vahey (www.anafaye.com) both lecture on the programme. Current students on this programme are already notching up success in design! Emma Curtis, a year 2 student was one of 12 students from colleges all over Ireland whose design featured recently in the prestigious Dublin Fashion Week ‘Young designer of the Year’ competition. The competition final – a fashion show on College Green, Dublin, was compered by Sonya Reynolds and Brendan Courtney on the 9th of September in front of an invited Student experience - Eimear Connolly (Bachelor of Applied Science, Food & Business Management 2014) I completed my work placement with Walshe’s Sunshine Juice, a Juice and Fruit Salad company based in County Carlow. During this placement, I was heavily involved in new product development while also gaining insight into production, quality control, marketing and key-account management. During my first few months, I undertook market research in the area of Fruit Salads. From this I developed a large range of Fruit Salads that I believed would appeal to the market. I presented this range of products to the Management Team in Sunshine Juice and from this a new range of Fruit Salads were short-listed. I was heavily involved with bringing these products to market through sourcing, packaging, labelling and sales pitches to retailers. I launched Walshe’s Range of Fresh Fruit Salads at an Easter Food Fair in a west of Ireland supermarket. This was a very memorable experience for me, gaining positive feedback from customers. The icing on the cake for me was when one of the newly developed Fruit Salads was nominated for a Blàs na hEireann award. I represented Sunshine Juice at 18 the Awards Ceremony in Dingle where Walshe’s Raspberry Citrus Fruit Salad won a Bronze Award for Taste and also won the over-all prize for Innovation in Food Packaging. Over-all my work experience was a very enjoyable and interesting experience. I gained a lot confidence and I am positive I have chosen the right career path. Sunshine Juice were a fantastic company to work for as the management team gave me the freedom to work on various project’s using my own initiative. The Irish food and beverage processing industry continues to provide excellent opportunities for employment as one of the major expo